Politics
Why PDP Spared Makinde, Ugwuanyi, Descended On Ortom, Fayose, Anyim— Sources
Published
2 years agoon
By
Editor
... ‘Wike still under investigation’
Many people believed they were enemies within the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, because they not only disagreed with the party leadership on who should be their presidential candidate ahead of the February 25 elections but it was alleged in many quarters that they also worked against the party.
They operated under the aegis of Integrity Group but the governors among them were famously known as the G5.
The crux of the matter was their insistence on the removal of the PDP Chairman, Dr Iyorchia Ayu, who hails from the North just like the party’s presidential candidate.
Led by Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers State) who had contested for the party’s presidential ticket with Atiku but came second, they canvassed the ceding of the party’s chair to the South as a form of geopolitical balancing.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: PDP Suspends Fayose, Anyim, Others, Refers Ortom To Disciplinary Committee
But their demand was never met, thus setting the stage for a stalemate ahead of the polls.
Opposition parties won the February 25 presidential election in the states controlled by the G5 governors namely Wike (Rivers), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
Thus it wasn’t unexpected that the PDP leadership would fight back now that the elections are over and Atiku not only lost but the party also lost some states it hitherto controlled.
‘No blanket decision’
The PDP National Working Committee, NWC, had, on Thursday, suspended former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, former Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayo Fayose, his former Katsina State counterpart, Alhaji Ibrahim Shema and two chieftains of the party, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar (Benue State), Dr Aslam Aliyu (Zamfara State) over alleged anti-party activities.
READ ALSO: Ayu Should Appear Before Disciplinary Committee, Not Me – Ortom
Of the lot, at least Fayose had been linked to the G5 governors. The NWC also referred Ortom to the party’s National Disciplinary Committee.
However, the decision to spare Makinde, Ugwuanyi, Ikpeazu and Wike alleged to have also engaged in anti-party activities has set tongues wagging.
Vanguard gathered, in Abuja, that the NWC treated each case on an individual basis.
A member of the party’s NWC, who was privy to what transpired during the meeting when the decision was taken to suspend Fayose and co was taken, explained that it “was not a blanket decision.”
The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak on the issue, said, “We treated each case on its merit.”
He went on: “It was as simple as looking at the level of infraction committed by each of those whose cases were brought before us.
“His Excellency Governor, Seyi Makinde, and his Enugu State counterpart, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, for example, were not overtly hostile to the party in spite of the differences we had.
“These two party members contributed men and materials to support our presidential campaigns, especially in their respective states.
READ ALSO: G-5: Why History Will Be Kind To Ortom, Ikpeazu, Ugwuanyi – Wike
“They also didn’t openly canvass for support for presidential candidates other than Atiku Abubakar unlike Ortom who openly declared his support for Peter Obi and to add salt to injury also asked his supporters to vote for Obi.
“Even when there were speculations that Makinde and Ugwuanyi were supporting the All Progressives Congress presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu, they were diplomatic and subtle in their approach.
“We are a party governed by rules and regulations. For every action there are consequences.
“As for Governor Wike, his case is still being investigated; although he disparaged our presidential candidate, he was careful not to openly canvass for the candidate of another party.”
VANGUARD
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Politics
Ekiti 2026: APC Aspirant Slams Oyebanji For Threatening Party Leaders
Published
5 hours agoon
August 24, 2025By
Editor
An All Progressives Congress aspirant in the 2026 governorship election, Kayode Ojo, on Sunday, tackled Ekiti State Governor, Biodun Oyebanji, for threatening party chairman in the local government area and wards not to entertain any other contender.
Ojo, who said that the governor’s waning popularity had pushed him to desperation, said, “This threat is not only ludicrous, but also vexatious and aptly demonstrates to all and sundry that the governor intends to turn the APC into his private fiefdom and family inheritance.”
The APC aspirant, represented by the Chairman, Consultative Forum of Kayode Ojo, Olukayode Oluyemo, who spoke at a press conference in Ado Ekiti on Sunday, expressed confidence that Ojo would win the party’s October 27, 2025 primary election despite alleged attacks and harassment from Oyebanji’s camp.
He restarted his determination to govern Ekiti State to redress what he called “the inexplicable stagnation ravaging Ekiti State despite the huge monthly allocation from the Federation Account as well as the state’s potential for development and growth.”
READ ALSO:Ekiti Govt Issues BEDC Seven-day Ultimatum Over Power Outage
He spoke in reaction to a statement credited to Oyebanji on Friday while receiving his APC expression of interest and nomination forms from a group within the Ekiti State University Alumni Association, which obtained the forms for him.
Oyebanji was quoted to have said, “I want to see the local government, I want to see the local government chairman and the ward chairman of APC that will open their doors and offices for these people. I want to know the party member that will receive them.”
But Ojo described the governor’s threat as a “violation of APC Constitution on the issue that members of the party are free to associate and to hold meetings with any aspirant in as much that they belong to the same party. We are members of APC, I don’t see why the governor is violating this constitutional provision.
“It is our party, so we are calling on the national executives of our party in Abuja to caution him so that he will not destroy APC.
READ ALSO:
“The governor is as well violating the Nigerian constitution, which has made it very clear that everybody has the right to associate. Everybody has the right to switch, I mean to pick your candidates and hold meetings at anywhere as long as you are not holding the meeting to rob or to cause criminal activities.
“So Mr Governor of Ekiti State should trust softly, be a democrat, obey the constitution of Nigeria and obey the constitution of our party, APC”.
Oluyemo, who said that Ojo’s friends and supporters, who had provided cash for his nomination and expression of interest forms, disclosed that they would pick the forms at APC National Secretariat in Abuja on Monday.
He said that the group had been mobilising APC members ahead of the forthcoming primaries to enable Ojo pick the party ticket, saying, “The problem we have been having is attacks from the side of the government, which probably feels that there should not be any opposition.
READ ALSO:
“We are not opposition members. We are members of the same party.
We only have our preferred aspirant, who we are backing to emerge as flagbearer.”
The group’s chairman, who alleged that Ojo’s supporters were being framed up and arrested for fictitious offences, called on police leadership in the state and at the federal level “to provide a level playing ground for all APC members to choose and follow their preferred aspirants preparatory to the party’s governorship primary election.”
He stated, “We equally plead with the leadership of APC in Ekiti State to eschew partisanship and embrace all governorship aspirants as one in the APC family.
READ ALSO:
“We also plead with President Bola Tinubu and the national leadership of our great party to caution Governor Oyebanji against ordering the arrest, harassment and maiming of APC members in Ekiti State. The forthcoming primary election is not a do-or-die affair,” he said.
Oluyemo urged supporters “to remain steadfast, law abiding and patriotic and unshakably loyal to the cause by stepping up mobilisation efforts across the 16 local government areas of the state without any fear as the day of liberation draws near”.

Benue State House of Assembly on Sunday elected Alfred Emberger as its new speaker.
The appointment came shortly after the resignation of the former speaker, Aondona Dajoh.
The new speaker is one of the four members suspended last Friday for attempting to remove the former speaker.
At the plenary session held on Sunday and presided over by the deputy speaker, Lami Danaldi-Ogenyi, the house resolved to lift the suspension on the four members.
READ ALSO: JUST IN: Benue Assembly Speaker Aondona Dajoh Resigns
The majority leader, Saater Tiseer, who said that the plenary was an emergency one, moved a motion for the lifting of the suspension on the four members and was seconded by Samuel Jiji of Logo state constituency.
The deputy speaker said, “Following the motion raised by the majority leader and supported by members of the house, this house has resolved to lift the suspension of the four members.”
After lifting the suspension, the four members were ushered into the chamber, and the nomination of the new speaker was announced.
A member representing the Makurdi South state constituency, Douglas Akyaa, moved a motion and nominated Emberger for the position of new speaker, seconded by Abu Umoru of the Apa state constituency.
READ ALSO:BREAKING: Benue Assembly Suspends Four Members For Attempting To Impeach Speaker
While there was no other nomination, the new speaker took the oath of office administered by the Clerk of the house, John Hwande
The new speaker, in his acceptance speech, commended the former speaker for his service and commitment to the progress of the house and the people of the state.
He further said, “To my esteemed colleagues, I assure you that this leadership will be anchored on inclusiveness, fairness and respect for diverse opinions.
“This house under my watch will work harmoniously with the executive and judiciary while maintaining our independence in line with the principle of separation of powers.”
Politics
JUST IN: Benue Assembly Speaker Aondona Dajoh Resigns
Published
7 hours agoon
August 24, 2025By
Editor
The Speaker of the Benue State House of Assembly, Aondona Dajoh, has resigned from his position.
According to Channels TV, the resignation is contained in a letter dated August 24, 2025, and titled “Resignation as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly.”
Dajoh said his decision was made in good faith and in the interest of the state.
“I write to resign my position as the Speaker, Benue State House of Assembly, effective today, August 24, 2025. This is done in good faith and in the best interest of the state. I want to appreciate my dear colleagues for the opportunity they gave me to be the first among equals,” the letter, personally signed by Dajoh, read in part.
READ ALSO: BREAKING: Benue Assembly Suspends Four Members For Attempting To Impeach Speaker
Dajoh, who represents Gboko West State Constituency, pledged to continue serving as a legislator.
“I pledge to remain committed to my duties as a legislator and representative of Gboko West State Constituency,” he added.
Details about who will replace Dajoh had not been released at the time of filing this report.
The House is expected to follow its standing orders to fill the vacancy and name a new speaker in line with legislative procedure.
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